NAPHL announces applications for the 2019-20 season

February 25, 2019

The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) has announced that membership applications are now being accepted for participation in the NAPHL during the upcoming 2019-20 season.

Founded in 2009 and heading into its 11th season in 2019-20, the NAPHL is the premier training ground for development, exposure, and opportunity. The success of teams on the national stage, as well as the success of NAPHL players at the next levels of hockey, is further proof that the NAPHL is redefining exposure and has become the marquee place to play for elite level players, ages 14-18.

So far during the 2018-19 season, over 115+ NAPHL alumni have played in NAHL and over 50+ have played in the NA3HL. There are currently over 240 NAPHL alumni playing in the NCAA. The NAPHL has also seen 40+ players selected during the past three years of the USHL Draft, and four NAPHL alumni were selected in the 2018 NHL Draft.

For the 2019-20 season, the NAPHL will be divided into three different Divisions (Tier 1, Showcase, and Prep) and four different age classifications, including 18U, 16U, 15U, and 14U teams from across North America that compete at the USA Hockey Tier I level.

All 18U and 16U Tier 1 Division teams will play in six events, the 15U teams will play in four events, and the 14U teams will participate in one event. The Prep and Showcase Divisions will each play in three events during the regular season. All events include a playoff at the end of the season for all divisions. An event schedule with locations is expected to be announced my March 1, 2019.

An application for the 2019-20 season in now available for new organizations only. Current NAPHL teams and organizations do not have to apply. To download and fill out an application, please click the corresponding link:

“The growth and success of the NAPHL had a big impact on the record-breaking NCAA commitment numbers the NAHL enjoyed this past season, further reemphasizing the importance and growth of our Ladder of Development. We are looking to continue that momentum and exposure for the 2019-20 season,” said NAPHL Director Tony Zasowski. “The feedback from all the events was very positive and the NAHL and college coaches have been very impressed with the level of play and variety of players and talent in the NAPHL.”

The NAPHL has enjoyed a record-breaking amount of advancement in recent seasons, which is highlighted by a large amount of advancement of players to the North American Hockey League (NAHL). No other USA Hockey Midget Tier I league has had more players play in the NAHL over the course of the last three seasons than the NAPHL. The NAPHL is the only youth league that has an exclusive NAHL tendering system available only to NAPHL players.

Another one of the big advantages of the NAPHL is the exclusive NAHL Central Scouting system. It is one of the big reasons that the NAPHL is advancing more and more players on to the NAHL than ever before are the direct benefits associated being directly involved with one another. NAHL Central Scouting is dedicated to identifying NAPHL hockey players, evaluating them in a true unbiased manner and then organizing and providing that information to NAHL teams. No other midget league in the United States has a system like it, where its primary mission is the advancement of players.